Improvement in submarine excavators



marine excavators or dredging-machines for JASON C. OSGOOD, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SUBIVIARINE EXCAVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,364), dated September 2,1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JASON O. OSGOOD, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have made and invented certain new and useful improvements in. subbottoming out canals and whenever or wherever machines for excavating or dredging are required for shallow cuttings, the same being, however, applicable to all elevator or endlesschain machines; and I declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, through letters marked thereon, and in which like letters have like references to like parts in each of the drawings.

Figure l is a side viewof the large crane, in which is combined the whole excavating or dredging machine and also a side view of the rack and pinion for elevating and depressing the ways. Fig. 2 is a top view of the part of the lower section of the large crane, showing the combined bevel-wheels by which the power is transmitted from the engine to the machine in the large crane. Fig. 3 is a view of a section of the large crane, Fig. l, showing the chut-e or trough and the manner of hanging it so that it will adjust itself by means of a bolt under the hopper and by the use of a small crane, also showing the hopper and its reversing-bottom, and it also contains a sectional view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of a section of the large crane, showing the hopper with its reversing bottom, and the turn-table and chain-wheel.

In each of the iigures or drawings letter B, wherever it occurs, represents the large crane; C, the buckets; D, the ways on which the buckets run; E, the wheels over which the bucket-chains run, called bucket-wheels;7 F, the hopper into which the buckets discharge; G, the chute or trough which carries off the excavated material; H, the small crane to hold up the chute or trough; I, the turntable or wheel to turn large crane B; K, the endless chain to carry the power from lower driving-wheel to top of large crane; L, the small bevel-wheel on main shaft; M, the large bevel-wheel used to transfer power from main shaft through L to driving-wheel N; N, the lower driving-wheel, being a bevel-wheel of same size as L, which takes power from main shaft and engine and transmits it through M to the buckets; O o, the rack and pinion to raise and lower ways D; P, the cast-iron step; R, the uprights for the large crane B; S, the wrist or trunnon projecting downward into box or seat T; T, the box or seat bolted to bottom of boat; U, the crossbeam on which is placed `the box to receive the upper end of shaft from bevelwvheel M; V, the casting, with wrist on upper side projecting into a box, to

-hold up crane B; W, the arms on the top of uprights R; X, the braces to aid in support'- Iing arms; Y, the braces under ways D to rec ceive rack O; Z, the ratchet-wheel used to dredging-machines, is the combination of the whole elevating and dredging machinery in a crane so constructed as to swing from side to side, thus obtaining a greater breadth of cutting and dispensing with rollers or casters to carry the same around upon, and also consists in so constructing the buckets and placing them that the material excavated will be discharged at the highest possible point in working under bridges, over canals, Sto., and in the particular manner in which the power is transmitted to the crane and the machinery therein by means o f the combined bevel-wheels inthe lower part of the crane, so that said dredging machinery will work with equal facility and power at each and every angle made by said crane in swinging from side to side, and in the manner of adjusting and placing the hopper for receiving the material excavated by the buckets, and in the reversing bottom of said hopper, so that the excavated material can be discharged therefrom into the chute or trough at either side of the boat, and in the manner of hanging said crane so that the buckets will revolve at the top without interfering with the machinery, and thus reach the highest point possible when working under bridges, and in the manner of turning or swinging the crane by means of a turn-table and chain, by which strength isadded to the crane-fastenings, and in the manner of elevating and depressing the buckets by means of a rack and pinion under the bucket-frame by which strength is added to the frame in cutting sidewise, and in the manner of hanging the chute or trough by means ofasmall crane, so that it will adapt itself to the various positions of the large crane.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, having reference to the said attached and accompanying drawings.

The following description is more particularly for an excavator or dredging machine to clear out the bottoms of canals where the locks will not admit the passage of wide boats and where the bridges are but ninefeet above the surface of the water. The boat into which the said excavating or dredging machine is placed is twelve feet wide and forty feet long; but it will be observed that said machine and said boat may be readily increased in size and strength, as the nature of the work may require, and also that the crane may be projected above the buckets like the cranes now in use for such machinery when there are no bridges to obstruct its working. y

I construct a boat, A, which in this description andthe drawings is supposed to be twelve feet wide and 'forty feet long, with a strong frame at one end of the boat to hold up the crane B. Crane B is made double or with two equal sides two feet apart, with connectingpieces where the same will not interfere with the buckets or machinery. I then construct a step, P, of cast-iron, three feet long by one foot wide, with two anges projecting up six inches and sixinches from each end, which forms a place to bolt on the uprights R for the crane B. In the center and on the under side of step P a wrist or trunnion, S, is cast to project downward into a box or seat, T. Box or seat T is bolted fast to the bottom of the boat. Directly above the wrist or trunnion S is a flange which is bored out to receive the shaft of the bevel-wheel M, which is a horizontal bevel-wheel two feet in diameter. The upper end of said shaft runs into a box placed on a cross-beam, U, about two feet above the foot of crane B and taking up about one-half of each upright R, so that the center of bevelwheel M will be in the radius-point of crane B. The uprights R are six by twelve inches and about seven feet long and bolted to step l?. About four feet above step P is another casting, V, two feet long, with iianges at each end to bolt to uprights It, with a wrist or trunnion cast on the upper side of same and projecting into a box for the purpose of holding up the crane B, and also allowing it to turn around freely. Either or both of said castings, Pand V, instead of being all iron may be made of wood and iron whenever the size of the boat and machinery will allow wood of sufficient size and strength. On the top of each upright R is an arm, W, four by sixinches and about eight feet long, with abrace,X, ofsamesizeextending from the outer end of arm W downward and inward to the upright R near its foot, to aid in supporting said arm W. On the top of said arms W are two pairs of bucket-wheels, E, over which the buckets C run. Said bucketwheels E are constructed in the ordinary manner of such` wheels in dredges. At the end of the arms W, at thejunction of the braces X, are the bucket-ways D hinged. Said ways are about twelve feet long, framed together by cross-beams four by six inches, with braces Y framed into and under the ways to receive thel rack O at the inner end for the purpose of elevating and depressing said ways. The rack O and pinion o are placed under and at back part of crane B above the casting V, a rack and pinion being on each side of said crane,A

connected to the braces Y by a `joint. The rack passes back over pinion. On the end ofa shaft, above casting V,*is a ratchet-wheel, Z,

and catch to hold it in position with a place or places for a bar to roll the wheel Z out or in, thus elevating or depressing the ways and buckets. At the outer end of the ways D is another pair of bucketwheels, E, over which the buckets run. Between the two pairs of bucket-wheels E E, on the top of arms W, I

place the hopper F, about two feet square at top and about fourteen inches deep, with concave bottom. Through this bottom I makean oval hole about two feet long and one foot wide. Across this hole I place a bar, a, fastened near the bottom of each side ol' the hopper. On this bar I hinge a reversing-bottom, b, so that it will fall on `either side, thus closing up one-half of said hole and giving direction to the excavated material toward the side the same is to be deposited.` In the center and on the bar c is an eyebolt, c, which is long enough to pass through the bottom of chute or trough G and admita washer and nut or` key to hold up said chute or trough and allow it to vibrate. Said chute may be constructed of wood or iron and made flat or half-round.

I prefer iron and half-round, as the excavated material will discharge more freely through it.

It should be wider at the end under and near the hopper than in other parts. It has a bail, d, about six feet from its upper end, to which is attached a line or chain running over and through the small crane H, by which the chute or trough is held up and raised or lowered as required.

I use the chain-wheel and belt-chain well known to mechanics to carry the power from bevelwheel M by endless chain or belt-chain K to the chain-wheel e on top of crane; but it may be carried by means of bevel-wheels and shaft or by pulley and belts.

The crane B is turned or swung round by means of the turn-table I, situated at top of crane and bolted or framed to the uprights R. The turn-table is moved by a belt-chain extending around it and to and around the chainwheel f. Chain-wheel f is onan upright shaft and is worked by a hand-wheel, g, or crank below, and in such position as to be easily handled. The buckets C are constructed in the usual manner for dredges where buckets are used, except that they have on the side next the chains on which they are hung, or upper side while cutting, a door, h, which is hung on the forward part of the buckets and held up to its place by a springcatch, t', while cutting and passing over the ways until the buckets reach the hopper F,when the catch is tripped by means of asmall spring or trip, 7c, on the edge and top of the hopper, and the door immediately falls within the hopper. The buckets then pass over the back bucket-wheels, which close said door.

The power is carried to the machinery by the use of combined bevel-wheels constructed as follows: A horizontal bevel-wheel, M, two feet in diameter, is placed on an upright shaft at foot of crane B, and is driven by a smaller upright bevel-wheel, L, placed at the end of the main shaft connected with the power. The power is transmitted through the bevelwheel M to an uprightdriving bevel-wheel, N, of same size as bevel-wheel L, by which the power is carried by means of chain-belt K to top of crane B and the buckets. By this combination of bevel-wheels it will be 'seen that the large bevel-wheel M may receive its power at any angle of the main shaft and may transmit it to said bevel-wheel N at any point said bevel-wheel N may revolve on the outer edge of said bevel-wheel M.

The power may be steam or any other known power which can be applied to such machinery, and may be carried to the main shaft and bevel-wheel L by means of wheels or belts or crank, or in any other known way.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An endless bucket or elevator dredgingmachine, which is arranged to swing wholly upon a crane and operated thereupon, and is capable of being raised and lowered upon said crane, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. u

2. The combination, with adjustable inclined ways D and the frame of the crane B, of the device o y or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3'. So combining the bevel-wheels M N and main upright of. the crane with the shaft and pinion L, through which the power is transmitted from the engine to the machinery in the crane, that said crane may be made to articulate'in any desired direction without affecting or varying the working relation of said bevel-wheels with the said shaft and pinion, substantially as described.

4. The construction and arrangement of the crane substantially as specied, so that the endless chain of buckets or elevators shall stand and discharge at a point higher than any other part of the apparatus, for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination'with the endless chain of buckets, the manner of hanging the chute or trough so that it will adjust itself by means of the bolt under the hopper and the small crane H, substantially as herein set forth.

'6. The manner of constructing the hopper with the reversing-bottom in combination with the chute or trough, for the purpose set forth.

JASON C. OSGOOD.

Witnesses:

NELsoN DAVENPORT, W. H. ToTHURsT. 

